Sand-testing tool



Aprll 19, 1927 C, NEWBURN SAND TESTING TOOL I N VEN TOR.

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Filed Aug. 29. 1925 .MMF

A TTORNEY` Patentedv Apr. 19, 1927. v

UNITED STATES* CLARENCE NEWB'URN, OF ELECTBA, TEXAS.

SAND-TESTING TGOL.

Application mea august aa, ma.. serial 11. 58,247.

This invention relates to rotary well tools i and equipment and it has particular reference to a. new and useful tool and recessfor the purpose of obtaining tests o sands and mineral strata'chiefly in oil field opera-l tions, and its objects are rimarily, to provide equipment for readi y and effectively making a preliminary test of oil sand or other mineral producing strata, in order to determine the advisability of installing a casing therein.

The invention further comprehends such a tool, arranged so as to permit the drill pipe to function as a substitute for the casing and tubing, thus to obviate materially the expense incident to the provision of such equipment, in addition to the elimination of rods and other pumping equipment, until the nature and value ofthe sand may be determined.

Heretofore, when pay sand, including oil or gas sand, was encountered during the process of drilling, the operator was required to pull the drill` pipe and form a seat or shoulder in the hole in 'order to support a casing assembly, which is'in turn run into the hole. The drill pipe is then again run into the hole for the purpose of washing the sand, which has been left exposed at the bottom of the hole. The drill pipe is then withdrawn to bail out the hole, and as a further test, a tubin assembly, usually consisting of a two inc pipe provided with a working barrel on the bottom, is run into the hole, in addition the sucker rods and traveling valve assembly. After the pumping equipment is assembled and installed, the pumping or testing operation begins. The present invention proposes, witha view of economy in time and expense, to reduce substantially the number of operations re quired in testing a sand or other productive mineral strata. v

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention has particular reference to certain novel features of construction and assembly of parts, which will be enumerated in the course of the following detail description, and fully illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a sectional view of the invention in vertical elevation as the same appears in the well to allow circulation of water through the tool to wash the well prior to the pumping operation.

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view,

also .in vertical elevation, showing the port opemng and valve closing arrangement subsequent to the washing operation, to permit pumping.

In'proceeding further in detail, 1 denotes a drill pipe, upon which is threaded a shoe .2, arranged to rest u on a shoulder 3 formed 1n the wall of the ho e. At a spaced distance below the shoe 2, the drill pipe is diminished and threaded interiorly to receive a short wo rking barrel 4, in which a traveling valve 5' reclprocates. The traveling valve is equipped with the usual compression cups 6 and circumferential retainingrings 7 disposed about the tubular member 8, threaded into the ca e 9.

Within t e tubular member 8 is disposed a tubular plunger 10, arranged to reciprocate freely therein, as mentioned previously, and is ofslightly greater length than the dormer, and further, is limited in its movement by a flange 10, resting on the top of the said member 8. An expansion spring 11 1s mounted upon the plunger 10 between a collar 11b thereon and a like collar 11l mounted upon the end of the tubular member 8, whereby to normally retain the said plunger in the position illustrated in Figure 1. A sleeve 12 is further provided, which is disposed so as the plunger 10, in a position to normally close the ports 13 in the valve cage 9, the purpose of which will be later made clear. It will be further observed` ,by reference to the drawings, that a ball 14 is provided in the cage4 9 and is supported upon the radially disposed exible lingers 15, secured to the walls of the said cage 9, as illustrated, directly above said sleeve 12.. The joint 16, threaded into the to of the cage 9 is adapted to receive the ro assembly 16", which is, in this instance, small tubing whereby to permit theiluid to be pumped therethrough if desired. A movement limiting means for the ball 14 is provided also in the joint '16, which consists of a pin 17 disposed diametrically through the member, as shown.

Radially disposed interiorl of the diminished portion of the drill pipe 1 is a plurality of back pressure valves, composed of gaskets 18, disposed over aperture 18L and heldin .position thereon by a leaf spring 19, which latter is secured at a spaced point from the apertures to the walls of the saidV drill pipe.

Returning to the working barrel 4, a terto rest upon the {iange 10'* of minal plug 19'* is atlixed to the bottom thereof and is centrally apertured and threaded to' receive the standing valve seat 20, provided with a central duid passage 21 and ports 21. The standing valve 22 is mounted in this seat 20, interiorly of the Worklng barrel 4, and is com oscd of the usual cage 23, having the usual all valve therein.

It is fre uently the case during the process of drilling that sand is encountered having evidences of commercially valuable mineral and a test is required to bemade of the strata in order to predetermine the value thereof or whether the installation of casing, tubing or other pumping equipment is warranted. After a predetermined depth luto the prospective sand is attained, the testing tool, consist-ing of the drill pipe` 1, shoe 2 and the joint of drill pipe upon which the latter is atxed, is substituted for the drill bit, which has formerl been withdrawn, and is lowered into the 101e in such -a manner as to permit the shoe 2 to rest upon the shoulder 3 formed within the hole.

It will be observed in the drawings that the working barrel 4 is of limited length and is further provided with spaced circumferential threads 4", which permit its depth to be predetermined in accordance with the depth of the sand to be tested. When in place the back ressure valves .18, as previously describe permit circulation of water through the sand to wash the hole clean of mud and other extraneous substance before making arrangements for pumping.

After the foregoing is accomplished, a strin of small tubing 16Il is assembled, upon .whic the traveling valve is applied, is lowered into the well into the position illustrated in Figure 1, which shows the ball 14 seated upon fingers 15 within the cage 9, whereby to permit free circulation .of water therethrough. The water is injected through the valve tubing, past the unseated valve downward through the ports 21l in the standin valve seat 20 and upward through the bac pressure valves 18, after thoroughly wash-A ing the san'd.

The Figure 2 illustrates the position of the sleeve l2 in releasing the ball 14, immediately before the plunger 10 is reverted to normal position b the spring 11, and when in this position, t e sleeve is engaged on its sides by the fingers 15, the friction thereof holding the sleeve against downward movement.

-The advantage derived through retaining the sleeve 12 in the position shown and dcscribed relative to the member 9, is to permit effusion of Huid, entering the plunger 10 from below, through the ports 13, to be conveyed upwardly through the drill pipe 1, b raising the ball 14. Moreover, such iiui as passes the ball 14 into the tubing 16 may be elevated therein quite as effectively as in the manner previously described, making an equivalent of two strings of tubing. On the other hand, should the ports 13 he closed by the sleeve 12 in the manner shown in Figure 1, the tubing would function in the capacity of a string of pump rods, as well as the tubing through which the fiuid is elevated; the Huid passing upwardly through the plunger 10, past the seated ball 14 and into the tubing 16. This arrangement, while furnishing only a single discharge tubing, may be desirable by some operators and may be accomplished by forcing the fingers 15 outwardly so that the pressure thereof against the sleeve 12, when-raised, would not be sufiiciently strong to hold the same.

Subsequent to the washing process, the traveling valve is set down upon the standing valve 23, as in Figure 2, causing the said valve 23 to be pressed still further down into the seat 20, suliciently to close the ports 21 therein, simultaneously causing upward movement of the plunger 10, due to the expansion spring 11, which action, with flange 10a on said plunger, elevates the sleeve or collar 12, to expand the fingers 15, in which position the said sleeve 12 remains, thus to release the-ball 14, permitting the same to 'drop through the sleeve and seat upon the flange 10. The ex ansion spring l1 forces the plunger 10 bac to normal position as illustrated in Figure l. It will be understood that upon raising the sleeve l2 by the above described action, the ports 13 in the cage 9 are opened, whereby to effect pump# ing of fiuid through the vdrill pipe 1, how- Y ever, by closing these ports, the fluid may be uite as effectively elevated through the sma l valve pipe 16.

It should be understood that all the elements of the invention have been incorporated in the foregoing as set forth in the appended claims however, should it be 'desired,certain minor changes and modificatlons may be resorted to as fall within the meaning and scope of the said claims, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention. A

I claim 1. An oil sand testing tool including in combination with a drill pipe having back pressure valvesintegral therewith, a shoe mounted on said drill ipe at a spaced point from` its bottom enti); a working barrel threaded into said drill pipe; a standing valve therein, provided with an apertured seat; a traveling valve reciprocable within said working barrel comprlsing a tubular member threaded into a cage, the latter having a ball suspended therein; a sleeve dis posed beneath said ball arranged to normally cover ports in said cage; a spring controlled plunger movably mounted in said tubular `inem er disposed to impinge said sleeve; means to permit circulation of water downmamen wardly past said suspended ball, through said standing valve seat and upwardly through said back pressure valves, and means to impart downward movement to said traveling valve to actuate said plunger to simultaneously seat the ball and close the ports in said standing valve seat to prepare said tool for pumping.

2. An oil stand testing tool including in combination with the drill pipe having back pressure valves therein; a working barrel arranged to be threaded at spacedepredetermined points intermediate its ends into the bottom end of said drill pipe, a standing valve and seat mounted in said working barrel having ports integral therewith; a traveling valve in said working barrel having a ball therein; means to hol-d said ball in unseated position within the cage; a sleeve mounted below said ball arranged to normally cover ports in said traveling valve cage; a plunger normally impinging the bottom of said sleeve, and means to actuate the traveling valve against said standing.

valve to seat the ball, thereby to simultaneously close the ports in said standing valve seat to prepare said tool for pumping.

3. A sand testing tool including in combination with a drill pipe, a working barrel in said drill ipe having a standing valve seat mounted) in its bottom end provided with ports and supporting a standing valve; a traveling valve operable within said working barrel provided with a ball supported by radially disposed flexible fingers whereby to permit free circulation of water throughout said working barrel; a sleeve movable within said traveling valve below said ball; a spring controlled plunger arranged to normally impinge said sleeve, and means to actuate said traveling valve against said standing valve to move said plunger and sleeve upwardly to thereby expand said flexible lingers whereby to release and seat the said ball, and simultaneously close the ports in said standing valve seat.

fl. A sand testin tool comprising in combination with the rill pipe, a working barrel mounted in the bottom of said drill pipe, a standing valve therein having ports therebeneath; a traveling valve in said working barrel, the latter comprising a tubular Imember threaded into a cage having ports therein; a sleeve arranged to normally cover said ports; a ball disposed upon spaced radially disposed flexible lingers above said sleeve; means to cause said plunger to move upwardly to permit said sleeve to expand said fingers to allow said ball to seat upon the end e of said plunger, and means to simultaneously close said fluid passages adjacent said stan ing valve to prepare said tool'for pumping.

5. A sand testing tool inclu-ding a tubular working barrel arranged to be depended within a well and having a standing valve l disposed iii its bottom, a traveling valve operable within said working barrel provided with a cage, a ball suspended therein upon radially disposed fingers; a sleeve below said ball; concentricall7 arranged tu- 70 bularmembers below said s eeve, the outer of which is threaded into said cage, the inner being spring controlled and normally impinging said sleeve; means to permit unrestricted passage of water downwardly through said working barrel to wash said well, Vand means to cause upward movement of said plunger to seat the ball whereb to effect pumping position of said trave ing valve.

6. A sand testing device including a working barrel arranged to be depended within a well and carrying a standing valve having luid passages therein; a valve reciprocable within said working barrel comprisin independent concentrically arranged tu ular members; a cage receivable by the outer of 'said tubular members; a ball suspended in unseated position therein; a sleeve mounted below said ball and impinged by the inner of said tubular members; means to permit passage of water entirely through said working barrel and valve to wash the bottom of the well and means to actuate said inner tubular member to effect upward movement of said sleeve to seat the ball and simultaneously close the tluid passages in said standing valve.

7. An apparatus ofthe character described including a stationary working barrel having a standing valve therein; a traveling valve reciprocal within said working barrel above said standing valve; a movable collar in said traveling valve arranged to normally cover ports therein; a ball suspended in nor-t 105 mally unseated position above said collar; a yieldable plunger impinging the underside of said collar; means to permitvthe passage of fluid entirely through said traveling and standing valves, and means to actuate said traveling; valve against said standing valve to simultaneously close said valves against the passage of fluid. w 8. An apparatus of the character described including with the drill pipe having ports therein, a short barrel threadedly suspended thereby; a standing valve supported in the bottom of said barrel having exterior I ports therein; a traveling valve movable above said standing valve and carrying a normally unseated ball valve; means to discharge 'a volume of water through said valves to be elevated through the ports of said drill pipe, and means to seat the valve of said r traveling valve b moving the latter against 12 said standing va ve, to prepare the apparatus for pumping.

9. An ap aratus for washing and testing sands inclu ing with afdrill pipe, a stationary suspended working barrel, a standing valve therein; a travelin valve above said standing valve having a all valve therein; means to hold said latter valve in Vopen position preparatory to closing each of said 5 valves; means to ermitcirculation of fluid .downward throug each of said valves and upward through said drill pipe, and means to simultaneously close each of said valves by actuating said traveling valve against said standing valve, to prepare said appara- 1'0 tus for pumping. l

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CLARENCE NEWBURN. 

